A Lowcountry Love Affair Grand Reception | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens



With couples getting anointed “Mr. and Mrs.” every weekend in the myriad nooks and crannies of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, the site’s seen more than its fair share of wedding day décor. And as Magnolia’s former event director (and current owner of Cruz Coordination, one of Charleston’s top-notch planning outfits), Jessica Cruz has seen almost every last iteration. So when she was tapped to design the finale reception last January for the venue’s annual wedding showcase, “A Lowcountry Love Affair,” she wanted to give one of the most popular parts of Magnolia a totally new look. “The whole design was to create an extension of the outdoor garden parties that had taken place throughout the rest of the beautiful gardens of Magnolia Plantation that day,” says Jessica. “I wanted to create a lush, over-the-top, indoor garden party in one of my all-time favorite venues. I envisioned everything hanging from the ceiling—from flowers and greenery to the food displays and the insanely beautiful hanging dessert display. All the vendors took the vision and ran with it in their own way.” To understand how differently they styled things, consider the “before:” the waterside spot has towering bare-timbered ceilings that preside over a barn-like open floor plan, a recipe that planners tend to go rustic with. But Jessica and her dream team? Nope. Think hot pinks and purples. Think massive, brightly hued floral walls and installations from Roadside Blooms and WildFlowers Inc. And think pick-your-own pretzels from MOSAIC Catering & Events. (As for those guests plucked a hanging soft pretzel from those that dangled over the bar and opted for cheddar and beer cheese, basil-mustard dip, or a cinnamon creme anglaise.) Says Jessica, “The final product was truly more than I ever hoped it could be!” Curious? Don’t wait. Scroll on for all of the imagery from Philip Casey and happy pinning, all!

Venue: The Carriage House at Magnolia Plantation & GardensCoordination & Design: Cruz CoordinationFloral Design: Roadside BloomsFloral Design: WildFlowers Inc.Rentals: EventWorksLounge Furniture and Vintage Pieces: 428 MainDJ, Draping, and DJ lighting backdrop: Lowcountry EntertainmentMocktails: Spike by Snyder | Catering and Pretzel Display: MOSAIC Catering & EventsBakery: WildFlour PastryTransportation: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co. | Images: Philip Casey Photography | Vintage Mirror Photo Booth: Charleston Booth Co. | Succulent Favors: Living Décor Charlotte

The Wedding Row

July 29 2019
Happy Monday, friends.  We are sitting down with our cup of coffee and with lovely Kelly, the owner of Paper Meets Pearl, a one-stop shop boutique wedding and event planning company based in the...

July 26 2019
It’s confirmed: Heather and Chuck absolutely let the dogs out. The pet lovers (and now newlyweds) met back in Gainesville, Florida, while in veterinary school. Chuck was getting his PhD in animal...

July 25 2019
These days, it’s pretty common to meet your S.O. on a dating app, but Tanya and Joe met in real life, sans any electronics. Can you believe it? While checking out a new store opening in Crown Town (...

July 24 2019
Back again, but this time it’s official! We fell hard for Abby and Grant’s love story back when we shared their engagement session a few months back. For a refresher, their romance began when Abby...

July 23 2019
Not everyone is fortunate enough to meet their future spouse as early as middle school, but Caroline and Robert sure lucked out. Although these two grew up together, they only began dating after...

July 22 2019
Alicia and Cameron, Maryland dwellers, may not live in our zip code but they certainly know how to throw a shindig, Charleston-style. We will get to that bit later but for starters, how about a...

July 18 2019
Now this is a wedding story full of fun, food, and … fish. (Wait for it. You’ll see.) Arkansas natives Elle and Miles met in college and dated for four years before this groom seriously reeled in a...

July 17 2019
After meeting online and sensing that this could be something special, Carolyn and Jeff found themselves falling head-over-heels IRL. Four years later, the duo vacationed in Grand Cayman for the Ritz...